According to investigators, a fight broke out between a man identified as Ryan Smith and the 5-foot-8, 225-pound Lewis. They exchanged punches before Lewis pulled a gun out and fired at Smith several times.

A bullet struck Smith's head, police said. Doctors at LSU Interim Public Hospital later performed surgery on him. The 38-year-old emerged in stable condition, but the victim lost his eyesight permanently, police wrote in court documents.

Investigators obtained an arrest warrant after they managed to identify Lewis as the gunman. They tracked him to the 4300 block of Magazine Street, handcuffed him and booked him into Orleans Parish Prison with one count of attempted second-degree murder by about 2:40 a.m. Monday.

Police wrote in court documents that Lewis is a self-employed landscaper. His home is in the 2400 block of Claire Avenue. If convicted of attempted second-degree murder, he would serve between 10 and 50 years in prison.